Prof. Francis Ndungu
Principal Investigator
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Bio
Francis did his PhD in immunology at the National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK (NIMR). He then took up a post-doctoral training position at NIMR and was successful at implementing a new programme of research in quantifying antigen-specific memory B cells in a mouse model of malaria. He moved back to KWTRP (Kenya) in 2008 as a post-doctoral researcher to start and build a research group.
See moreCurrent Work
His main areas of interest are:
(i) immunological memory to malaria parasites in historically infected individuals,
(ii) host factors responsible for increased susceptibility to malaria in a small proportion of children that experience excessively more malaria than expected, and
iii) the mechanisms responsible for controlling parasite growth and inflammation in semi-immune adults following experimental infections.
These studies are providing the much-needed insight into how we can induce protective immune responses to P. falciparum malaria by vaccination in the background of the immune-regulatory state induced by natural exposure in endemic areas.
Upon the introduction of Covid-19, he was quick to use his experience and skills to initiate a project on Covid-19 immunology - understanding Sars-CoV-2 immunology in the African population. Furthermore, his group has been involved in the response to the pandemic in Kenya with involvements in Covid-19 testing, and sequencing of Sars-CoV-2 viruses.
Recent publications
African-specific genetic loci determine iron status and risk of severe malaria and bacteremia in African children.
Muriuki, J. M.
Mentzer, A. J.
Band, G.
Chong, A. Y.
Macharia, A. W.
Mogire, R. M.
Abuga, K. M.
Mitchell, R.
Gilchrist, J. J.
Webb, E. L.
Ndungu, F. M.
Raffield, L. M.
Ekunwe, L.
Bentley, A. R.
Sirima, S. B.
Madhi, S. A.
Hill, A. V. S.
Prentice, A. M.
Bejon, P.
Hemani, G.
Smith, G. D.
Sandhu, M. S.
Elliott, A. M.
Williams, T. N.
Adeyemo, A.
Atkinson, S. H.
Nat Commun, (2026). :
Pre-COVID-19 ex vivo cross-reactive IFN-gamma cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 spike overlapping peptides is more prevalent among Kenyan compared to Swedish adults.
Wanjiku, P.
Orindi, B.
Mwacharo, J.
Chemweno, J.
Karanja, H. K.
Kronsteiner, B.
Kai, O.
Wright, D.
Ochola-Oyier, L. I.
Sundling, C.
Dunachie, S.
Warimwe, G. M.
Farnert, A.
Bejon, P.
Ndungu, F. M.
Nduati, E. W.
BMC Infect Dis, (2026). 26:174
Induction of an early IFN-gamma cellular response and high plasma levels of SDF-1alpha are inversely associated with COVID-19 severity and residence in rural areas in Kenyan patients.
Wanjiku, P.
Orindi, B.
Kimotho, J.
Sayed, S.
Shah, R.
Saleh, M.
Mwacharo, J.
Maronga, C.
Olouch, V.
Karanu, A.
Shah, J.
Nneka, Z.
Ochola-Oyier, L. I.
Abdi, A. I.
Dunachie, S.
Bejon, P.
Nduati, E. W.
Ndungu, F. M.
PLoS One, (2025). 20:e0316967
OSBPL11 is an African-specific locus associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and cardiometabolic health.
Mogire, R. M.
Muriuki, J. M.
Bayimenye, R. F.
Mentzer, A. J.
Chong, A.
Gouveia, M. H.
Bentley, A. R.
Band, G.
King'ori, P.
Mitchell, R.
Webb, E. L.
Sengupta, D.
Ekunwe, L.
Ndungu, F. M.
Morovat, A.
Macharia, A. W.
Cutland, C. L.
Hemani, G.
Sirima, S. B.
Ramsay, M.
Figueiredo, C. A.
Prentice, A. M.
Madhi, S. A.
Raffield, L. M.
Sandhu, M. S.
Bejon, P.
Smith, G. D.
Elliott, A. M.
Williams, T. N.
Rotimi, C.
Bourne, C. R.
Burgett, A.
Adeyemo, A.
Atkinson, S. H.
medRxiv, (2025). :
Kinetics of naturally induced binding and neutralising anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and potencies among SARS-CoV-2 infected Kenyans with diverse grades of COVID-19 severity: an observational study.
Kimotho, J.
Sein, Y.
Sayed, S.
Shah, R.
Mwai, K.
Saleh, M.
Wanjiku, P.
Mwacharo, J.
Nyagwange, J.
Karanja, H.
Kutima, B.
Gitonga, J. N.
Mugo, D.
Karanu, A.
Moranga, L.
Oluoch, V.
Shah, J.
Mutiso, J.
Mburu, A.
Nneka, Z.
Betti, P.
Usyu Mutinda, W.
Abdi, A. I.
Bejon, P.
Ochola-Oyier, L. I.
Warimwe, G. M.
Nduati, E. W.
Ndungu, F. M.
Wellcome Open Res, (2025). 8:350